The Emotional Impact of Advanced Breast Cancer

When you find out you have
advanced breast cancer, it is
normal to feel shocked or
alone, or to feel a sense of despair. Sometimes
crying and expressing your sadness
is enough to get you through the tough
emotions that can come with a diagnosis
of advanced breast cancer. But sometimes
you may feel so bad that you lose
interest in the things that used to make
you happy. You may feel like staying
in bed all day and stop reaching out to
friends and family.

Depression
If you start feeling this
way, you may be experiencing the psychological
condition called depression.
It’s important to know that some people
feel depressed for the first time after a
diagnosis of cancer, while others arrive
at cancer with a history of depression.

The first and most
important step in
treating depression
is to acknowledge it
and to ask for help.

Many people with advanced cancer
face some sort of emotional distress.
This can make it difficult for you to cope
with symptoms and treatment, and can
seriously affect your quality of life.
Thankfully, there are many effective
treatments for this condition.

The first and most important step in
treating depression is to acknowledge
it and to ask for help. Tell your doctor
if you have feelings of depression or
emotional distress. Your healthcare team
is there to help you cope with these
feelings and to do everything they can
to help maintain the best possible quality
of life for you. Being treated for
depression can make a huge difference
in your quality of life. Treating depression
will make it easier for you to deal
with cancer and will allow you to rediscover
joy and pleasure in your everyday
life. If you find yourself dealing with
depression, remember these tips: ♦
Talk openly to trusted friends and
family members about your feelings
and fears.♦
Make an appointment with a counselor,
therapist, or psychiatrist to help
cope with your thoughts and feelings.♦
Ask your doctor about medications
that can help. ♦
Focus on living in the moment. ♦
Use relaxation techniques, such as
deep breathing, to reduce your body’s
release of hormones that may trigger
a sensation of anxiety.

Maintaining Relationships
A diagnosis
of advanced breast cancer will
almost certainly change the way you
relate to your loved ones and the way
they relate to you. Remember that these
relationship changes are often positive
ones, representing an ongoing evolution
in the way you and your loved ones
relate to one another.

One of the most important things you
can do to sustain and nurture these meaningful
relationships is to communicate
with your family and friends about how
you’re feeling. Tell them honestly about
your diagnosis, how the disease and
treatment might be affecting you, and
how they can and cannot help you.

The quality of life of all women with
advanced breast cancer can be negatively
affected. In turn, it is normal to experience
feelings of sadness, grief, and
loneliness. Support from others who are
dealing with advanced breast cancer,
or even dealing with other types of
cancer, can be a true source of comfort,
strength, and hope.

Young Women and Advanced Breast Cancer

Women of all ages, including
young women, can be affected by
advanced breast cancer. Breast cancer
accounts for almost 15 percent
of all cancers in people ages 15 to
39 years old. Compared to older
women, when a young woman is
diagnosed with breast cancer, it is
more likely to be in the advanced
stage or is more likely to recur. Due
to their phase in life, young women
encounter certain issues surrounding
relationships, fertility, and sexuality
that may not be as relevant or as
powerful in older women. For young
women who may be thinking of
starting a family or entering a romantic
relationship, the side effects
of certain cancer treatments can be
troubling. These side effects include
early-onset menopause, infertility,
sexual dysfunction from vaginal dryness
or decreased libido, and concerns
about body image related to hair loss,
weight gain, and scars.

However, there are actions you
can take that may help minimize
or even prevent some of these potential
side effects. For example, some
women who are concerned about
becoming infertile will harvest their
eggs before beginning treatment. Additionally,
there are vaginal lubricants
and dilators that can aid in making
sexual intercourse more comfortable
and pleasurable.